§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Energy what regulations or proposals of the EEC, whether agreed or in draft, would influence or restrict the freedom of publicly owned bodies to determine their own tariffs or tariff structures, or this House to determine financial support to any form of energy supply.
§ Mr. John Smith:Apart from the rules on competition and non-discrimination in the Treaty of Rome, which apply generally, and similar provisions in the Treaty of Paris, there are no regulations or proposals that would influence or restrict the freedom of publicly owned bodies to determine their own tariffs or tariff structures. However the Commission may in specified circumstances fix the prices of certain nuclear materials under the provisions of Chapter VI of the Euratom Treaty; but its proposals need to be approved unanimously by the Council.
Articles 92–94 of the Treaty of Rome lay down the rules for State aids to industry. There are no special provisions covering energy supply, but EEC regula- 292W tions made under the Treaty of Paris provide for approval by the Commission of the level of State aids to the NCB.